Mount Sabinyo hike; Mount Sabinyo is one of the extinct volcano mountains found in the Virunga ranges in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is the smallest protected area in Uganda located in southwestern region in Kisoro district bordering with Virunga national park in Congo and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Mount Sabinyo derives its name for a local term Sabinyo which means old man’s tooth and this is due to fact that its summit looks like an old man’s worn out teeth. Mount Sabinyo stands at a height of 3,645 meters and lies at a meeting point or border of the three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and democratic republic of Congo. Other Virunga volcanoes include Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Mikeno and Mount Nyamuragira.

Hiking Mount Sabinyo

Mount Sabinyo is one of the volcanic mountains that offers the challenging hikes in the Virunga ranges and hiking Mount Sabinyo starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will be allocated an experienced park guide, park rangers, walking sticks and then start hiking passing through different vegetation zones for example bamboo zone, swamps, forest patches of Hagenia Hypericum, sub alpine zone among others where you will be able to view different wildlife species including primates like gorillas and golden monkeys if you are lucky, monkeys, animals like buffaloes, elephants, bush pugs, different bird species like the Rwenzori turaco, plant and tree species among others. Mount Sabinyo can be hiked in one day and takes about 8 hours round trip that is four hours to the summit and four hours descending back. When you reach the summit, you will be standing in three countries at the same time that is Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, you will also be able to enjoy stunning views of Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Kivu, Rwenzori mountain ranges, beautiful scenery among others.

Cost of hiking Mount Sabinyo

Hiking Mount Sabinyo in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 80 USD per person for foreign non residents, 70 USD per person for foreign residents and 50,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. The fee includes entrance fees in Mgahinga gorilla national park and excludes tent, cook and porter fees.

When to hike Mount Sabinyo

Hiking Mount Sabinyo can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this access roads to the park and hiking trails will be dry and passable which makes mountain climbing easy compared to the rainy season when the hiking trails are muddy and slippery which makes hiking difficult.

What to pack for Mount Sabinyo Hike

There are a number of essential items that you should pack when going to hike Mount Sabinyo including hiking boots, long sleeved shirt and trouser, packed lunch and drinking water, waterproof rain jacket, insect repellent, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, backpack, long stockings, a hat, garden gloves, walking stick among others.

Where to stay in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park has several accommodation facilities where you can stay during your safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Mutanda Lake Resort, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Mubano Hotel, Kisoro Travelers Rest Camp, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Travelers Rest Hotel, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp among others.

How to get to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by both air and road transport means.

Road transport, when using road transport means, you will drive from Kampala through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive in a safari vehicle.

You can also access Mgahinga gorilla national park from Kigali Rwanda where you will fly to Kigali international airport and then cross to Mgahinga gorilla national park through Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.

Air transport, when using air transport means, there are scheduled or charter domestic flights with Aero link Uganda or Bar aviation that you can book from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to Mgahinga gorilla national park by road.

Hiking Mount Sabinyo is an adventurous activity that can be combined with other activities like gorilla trekking, bird watching, guided nature walk, Batwa cultural tour, Gorilla habituation experience among others. For more information about Mount Sabinyo hike, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris.